Recipe

Salads like this one often grace the antipasti table at Italy’s trattorias, where it is served as an appetizing first course. The beans make it substantial enough to be the main dish at a supper or lunch, which is how it is offered here. Try to make it a couple of hours ahead so the flavors have a chance to marry.

Notes

Simple Tip: Mediterranean cooks have been preserving tuna in olive oil for years. Some domestic brands are now following suit, and you can find them in the canned fish department at the supermarket. Or, look for imported tuna in olive oil at stores with Italian products. You can substitute tuna in vegetable oil or water, if you wish.